The "Big Eyes" paintings of Margaret Keane

Here's Looking at You, Kids

Art to
some, kitsch to others. In the 1960s the image of a tearful tot with eyes as
big as saucers became known around the world as a "Keane," after Walter
Keane. Those big-eyed waifs made him a celebrity - except Walter Keane didn't actually
paint any of those children.

His
wife, Margaret Keane, did, while Walter just pretended to - and took much of
the credit.

Now a
new movie directed by Tim Burton, "Big Eyes," tells the story of
Margaret and Walter Keane and the artistic legacy which was decided in court.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

Margaret,
who had painted most of her life, met Walter in San Francisco in 1954. She
signed her works "Keane" - and Walter sold them as his own. When
Margaret found out, he convinced her they would sell better if people thought
the artist was a man.

"The whole thing snow-balled so fast, almost
overnight," said Margaret. She told CBS News' Lee Cowan that the two
argued and fought over the issue for about a year, "until finally I just
gave in."

Credit: CBS News

Keane Eyes Gallery

Now 87,
Margaret Keane stills paints, and exhibits her work at the Keane Eyes Gallery
in San Francisco.

"I
was always drawing eyes, even as a child. Eyes fascinated me," she said.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

Though
critics derided the work, the public loved those big eyes, and the money
started rolling in. Walter's fame grew, while she remained silent - and, she
admits, complicit.

"I
was to blame," she said. "If I hadn't allowed it, it wouldn't have
happened."

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

Left: "Asian Pearl" by Margaret Keane.

"I
was a very abused wife," Margaret Keane told Cowan. "Psychologically
abused, tremendously. I kept getting deeper and deeper in this hole, and I
didn't know how to get out."

Credit: CBS News

Keane Eyes Gallery

It was
only after Margaret moved to Hawaii and filed for divorce that she eventually
took Walter to court. "I think a lot of the uncertainty about who did them
will be cleared up," she said at the time.

The
clincher? The judge ordered them both to paint for the jury. Walter said his
shoulder hurt and couldn't paint, while Margaret painted her signature big-eyed
waif in just under an hour.

The
jury was suitably impressed, and awarded Margaret $4 million. But she never saw
a dime of it.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

A painting by Margaret Keane.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

"Steep Climb" by Margaret Keane.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

A painting by Margaret Keane.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

"Bay View" by Margaret Keane.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

A painting by Margaret Keane.

Credit: CBS News

Keane Art

A Margaret Keane painting.

Credit: CBS News

"Big Eyes"

Adams
met Keane at the gallery before filming started. She wanted to watch Margaret's
technique, to see how she held the brush and touched the canvas. Adams even
added a few strokes herself, as Margaret Keane looked on.

So what
did she paint? "A leaf!" Adams laughed. "I thought, you know,
I'm not gonna touch the eyes! I'm not gonna touch the face!"